MLS releases unprotected list for Expansion Draft

The Portland Timbers and Vancouver Whitecaps now know the players they have to choose from in Wednesday's MLS Expansion Draft.

The list of unprotected players available in the draft was released by MLS on Monday afternoon, and among the various big names are San Jose DP Geovanni, Sporting KC's Jimmy Conrad, Chicago attacker Nery Castillo, and veteran Houston goalkeeper Pat Onstad. Though with the salary cap to take into account, high-priced names are rarely coveted.

Teams were allowed to protect 11 players, with Generation adidas and so-called home-grown players receiving automatic protection. Also, any designated player with a no-trade clause in his contract had to be protected by the club; any without a no-trade clause did not. Clubs can lose no more than two players from their 2010 roster during the draft.

The Expansion Draft takes place at 2 pm ET on Wednesday. MLSsoccer.com will have complete coverage, including a live edition of ExtraTime Radio broadcasting the draft teleconference among the teams, starting at 1:45 pm ET.